Help! Hobby Craft decals...Grrrr!

gedenke

Member since
November 2005
From: Southern Oregon, USA

Help! Hobby Craft decals...Grrrr!

Posted by gedenke on Wednesday, January 4, 2006 8:23 PM

Okay, got my Hobby Craft 1/48 P-40B ready for decaling (pretty good fit by the way). At first glance I was happy with the decal sheet that came in the kit, but then I tried to put them on. Angry [:(!] !!! The dang things are falling apart befor I can even slide them off the backing! They're complete junk! Now, before I run out and spend $ on an aftermarket sheet, is there any remedy to keep them together long enough to get them in place? I've heard clear coating the sheet first, etc....What works? (or should I give up and buy aftermarket?)

p.s. I'm doing #77 AVG Flying Tigers...any recommendations for aftermarket?

-Geoff There is an art . . . to flying. The knack lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss. — Douglas Adams, 'The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy'.

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T_Terrific

Member since
April 2005
From: Baton Rouge, LA

Posted by T_Terrific on Thursday, January 5, 2006 3:15 PM

Hi Gedenke:

I recommend that you contact Hobby Craft, Canada directly and tell them.

See this link:

http://hobbycraft.com/contact_info.php

I have had very good results dealing directly with them, including getting more then one set of replacement decals.

Tom T. Cowboy [C):-)]

Tom T Cowboy

“Failure is the opportunity to begin again more intelligently.”-Henry Ford

"Except in the fundamentals, think and let think"- J. Wesley

"I am impatient with stupidity, my people have learned to live without it"-Klaatu: "The Day the Earth Stood Still"

"All my men believe in God, they are ordered to"-Adolph Hitler

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gedenke

Member since
November 2005
From: Southern Oregon, USA

Posted by gedenke on Thursday, January 5, 2006 10:23 PM

T...thanks for the link, I just might let them know about my disatisfaction.

I actually tried the clear coat method (used a can of Krylon satin that I had) and it worked like a charm. First, I put on a light coat, so as not to "disolve" the decals, then, when dry, put on another couple of coats, let dry, and they slide off as advertised. I'm not sure if I needed more than one coat, but two coats and the Future/MicroSet/MicroSol combo gave satisfactory results. The only setback is that I had to use a bit more MicroSol than usual, but other than that, I'm happy. Learn something new every day...

-Geoff There is an art . . . to flying. The knack lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss. — Douglas Adams, 'The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy'.

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T_Terrific

Member since
April 2005
From: Baton Rouge, LA

Posted by T_Terrific on Friday, January 6, 2006 2:43 PM

I am glad it worked out for you.

Like I said, they have a lady there who is right "on top" when it comes to responding to consumer complaints, and if you need a replacement item, if they don't have it right away, you definately will receive it later when they get spares in, providing it is not an out-of-production kit.

I would just tell them what happened and ask them for a replacement set. Wink [;)]

Tom Cowboy [C):-)]

Tom T Cowboy

“Failure is the opportunity to begin again more intelligently.”-Henry Ford

"Except in the fundamentals, think and let think"- J. Wesley

"I am impatient with stupidity, my people have learned to live without it"-Klaatu: "The Day the Earth Stood Still"

"All my men believe in God, they are ordered to"-Adolph Hitler

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qmiester

Member since
May 2003
From: Central USA

Posted by qmiester on Friday, January 6, 2006 5:47 PM

If you want to try to save what is left, you can spray a clear coat over the remaining decals or see if your LHS has any Micro Scale Liquid Decal and apply a couple of coat of that to your decals.

Quincy

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gedenke

Member since
November 2005
From: Southern Oregon, USA

Posted by gedenke on Thursday, January 19, 2006 12:42 PM

No luck with Hobby Craft. I emailed them last week and still haven't heard anything back, not even a reply saying they received it. Who knows, maybe my email didn't go through. I'll try and call them, and if that doesn't work, oh, well. The decals are on and they are OK, I'll just remember this next time I think about buying a Hobby Craft.

p.s. Here's what the P-40b turned out like:

-Geoff There is an art . . . to flying. The knack lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss. — Douglas Adams, 'The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy'.

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, January 29, 2006 7:29 PM

Could age have something to do with it? I did just do a Revell P-40 that was from 1962 or something and the decals went on fine but were kinda faded. Anyway I just started my HobbyCraft Wildcat, not my favourite aircraft but I got it at Hobby Lobby for 20 bucks can't complain. Hopefully I do not have the same probs.

BTW what mustang kit is that and are they out of box decals also?

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gedenke

Member since
November 2005
From: Southern Oregon, USA

Posted by gedenke on Monday, January 30, 2006 12:51 AM

Age may be a factor, I think this was a '90's kit. The sheet actually looked really good until I went to apply. Who knows? I too just did an old Revell P-40 and the sheet was completely cracked. That's why I went and bought the Hobby Craft (ebay), to rob the decals from. When I opened up the box, I was so impressed with the nice recessed panel lines and cockpit detail, I went ahead and built the Hobby Craft.

Oh, and as for the 'Stang, it's the cheap-o 1/48 Revell kit (got it at Wal-Mart for like $8). Ironiclly, those are the out-of-the-box decals and they were awsome! They applied smoothly and layed down fantasticlly. Aside from that, it was the first kit I'd done since I was a teen, and my first attempt at air brushing. Here's a better pic...

-Geoff There is an art . . . to flying. The knack lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss. — Douglas Adams, 'The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy'.

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, February 1, 2006 5:52 PM

Thanks. I really like that livery. I guess because it was the only paint for the P-51 in Combat Flight Simulator 1. I am lookin for a P-51 kit for my next build. I wonder if I could grab the kit and steal the decals to use on a different model.